Fourth Geneva Convention: Civilians in the Occupied Territories

HL Deb 17 November 2003 vol 654 c241WA

Lord Lester of Herne Hill

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they consider that the Fourth Geneva Convention applies for the protection of civilians in the Occupied Territories, or whether they consider Israel to be the legal administrator of the territories pending determination of their status, and hence, not bound by the Fourth Geneva Convention. [HL5231]

Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean

The UK has long taken the view that the Israeli presence in the Occupied Territories is governed by the Fourth Geneva Convention. The UK reaffirmed its view of the applicability of the Fourth Geneva Convention in the Occupied Territories at the reconvened conference of High Contracting Parties in Geneva on 5 December 2001. In accordance with the declaration adopted at the conference, we continue to call upon all parties to the conflict to respect and to ensure respect for the Geneva conventions in all circumstances.